Floatable toy



Nov. 13,1928.

J. HALL FLOATABLE TOY Filed Nov. 7, 1 927 I'VE Y (/0032)?! Hall 10 scribed in my Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J'UDSON HALL, OI HABTLLND, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN 'OR F onn-roun'rn 'ro BENJAMIN I. BAYHA AND ONE-FOURTH TO HERBERT A. BELL, BOTH OF MILWAUKEE, "WISCON- SIN.

I'LOA'IABLE TOY.

. Application filed November 7, 1927. Serial No. 281,408.-

This invention relates to improvements in a floatable toy, and more particularly to im-;

provements in floatable toys of the type that are self-propulsive by the action of a spring motor.

The invention more fparticularly contemplates the provision o a novel water toy modeled somewhat after the design of the propelled bathing device disclosed and decopending application of even filing date herewith.

In the art of toy making. it is highly de- 'sirable to provide devices that will be immediately attractive to children, and also, if

possible, to embody some element within the device to make it slight-1y educational to a child. It is also desirable to provide a device which, while operating, requires no attention other than the rescuing of the device when the same ceases motion. It is well known, too,

that children delight in toys of a realistic nature wherein a mlniature model of a human figure is embodied.

Accordingly it is an-important object of this invention to provide a new and novel animated floatable toy, self-propelled by a spring motor. v

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy of the class described wherein Figure 1 is a preferred form and embodies a model of the human figure.

A furtherobject of the present invention is to provide an animated toy which may be adjusted so that it may be operated with no attention until it ceases motion.

Another and further important objects of this invention will be. apparent from the disclosures in the drawings and specification.

This invention" (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view in elevation of adevice embodying principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the driving element-of'the device.

Figure 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially along line IV-IV of Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken through the gear housing of the device.

As shown in the drawings; ,7

7 spring 8 is provided which is from returning to its In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown a fioatable unit coniprising a pairof pontoons or boat sha ed members 1 and 2, respectively, rigidly he] in spaced relationship by a yoke or beam 3. The members 1 and 2, of course, are so shaped as to readil pass through the water or the like, and the be forward surface 4 so that the beam will offer no undue resistance to the progress of the device.

Preferably adj acent. the center of the beam 3, a driving element is mounted thereon. The driving element, in this instance, comprises a casing 5 which is apertured to permit a key shaft 6 to extend through the top thereof, and a drive shaft 7 to extend through the bottom thereof, which drive shaft also passes through the beam 3. Within the casing 5 a coiled connected at its lower end to a circular plate 9 secured to the shaft 7, and at its upper end to a ratchet gear 10 secured to the shaft 6. The ratchet gear 10 together withthe shaft 6 is movable longitudinally as well as rotatably within the casing. The ratchet wheel is en aged by an elongated spring pawl 11 which 15 secured to the outer wall of the casing. parent, therefore, that when wound tap the shaft 6' and ratchet 10 will be projecte within the casing, to a point adjacent the lower extremity of v the pawl 11. When the spring is permitted to relax it will turn the plate 9 together with the shaft 7 and gradually slide the ratchet wheel along the pawl to its initial posit-ion, as shown in Figure 3. The pawl, of course, prevents the ratchet wheel from rotating in a reversedirection; To'enable the spring to be wound up properly a'key 12 is provided on the externally projecting end of the shaft 6. projects through the casing I A set screw 13 5 and engagesthe disc 9to act as a brake the'reagainst, thereby preventing the spring normal non-tensed po? sition too rapidly. 4

Externally of the'ca'sing on the under side thereof the shaft 7 is provided with a loose collar 14. Adjacentthe collar 14 is a collar 15 fixedl secured to the shaft 7 and rotatable therewit The collar 15 maintains theplate 9 adjacent the lower portion of the casing 15 as shown in Figure 3. A hollow shaft or pipe 16 encloses the shaft 7 and is pinned as at am 3 is provided with an arcuate It will be apthe springis '17 the o11ar-14. At its lower end this pipe 16 is-plinned as at 18 to a boss 19 intet e gear housing 20, whereby the- ,gral with 7 pipe is prevented from rotatable movement .i'sprovided on its outer end with a propeller 24: which is driven by the shaft 7 in the manner described hereinabove.

Around the casing 5 of the driving element a is an adjustable-clamp25 having an extended apertllred lug 26. thereon. A handle 27 is fixedly, or-piv'otally engaged by the lug 26.

.To the handle-27 a body 28 is secured, an arm of the: body preferably engaging the handle on either side of the lug 26. It has been ,found desirable to make the handle 27 of fibrous ma terialand to fixedly'engage the same in the lug 26, thereby providing resilient play for the body 28 relative to the remainder of the device.

' i The body .28 is preferably doll-like in character and, in this instance, is shown as a miniature model of a human figure, but, of

course, it may be madein any desired shape. This,body, besides presenting an attractive 1 appearance to children, acts as a rudder to properly steer the device in any desired direction. For instance, if it is desired to havethe device proceed in a straight, forward direction, the clamp 25 is tightened mine position shown in. Figure 2, the body 28 ex.-' tending substantially perpendicular to the beam.3. If, however, 1t is" desired that the device-operate within a circle, the clamp 25 is released, the body swung to the left or right, and the clamp tightened. The device will then operate in. circular direction, the

.body being'always inclined toward" the center of the circle. Obvionsly",'jby suitabl ad-.' justing the body 28 by means of; the 0 amp 7 2 5 the device is enabled to operate through circles in eithe'rg'direction and of various diameters. I It is also readily apparent that while the device is operating in a circular line no attention is necessitated; Moreover,

if the handle 27 is made of fibrous material,

the-body 28 will have a desired bobbing mo tion relative to the ante i portion of device..' o v The device hei'einalioveldescribed may, of,

course,-be' covered with attractive colors 'if des1red.' -Also, if foriany reason' it is not desirable tooperate' the device by means of the drivingclement thereon, the device may be towed without detracting from its novel appearance and' action. 'From thejorjegoing it. is apparent that ,I;

have provided anew. and'nove 'the patent granted hereon otherwise than nejustably associated with said driving means,

maintain the .same in spaced relationship,

ti ey,-

which is highly attractive to children, simple in its operation, and which necessitates minimum attention. The device disclosed herein is constructed of fewand simple parts and may be economically manufactured.

I am aware that many changes may be "made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting cessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a toy, a pair of buoyant members, a yoke connecting said members, means for propelling said toy, and a doll-like body secured to one of said elements.

2. In a toy, a rigid unit comprising a pair of floatable members, a yoke connecting said members, and an'artificial doll-like body adjustably associated with said unit.

3. A floatable toy comprising a plurality of floatable members, means connecting said members, driving means associated with said connecting means, and a doll-like body ad- 4. In a toy, a buoyant unit, driving means .for said unit, and a doll-like body secured to said unit- 5. In afloatable toy, a pair of spaced pontoons, a yoke connecting said pontoons, a spring motor associated with said yoke, a handle adjustably mounted on said nfotor, and a body secured to said handle.

' 6. In a toy, a floatable unit, driving means for said unit, and a doll-like body ad ustably secured to said unit, said body adapted to act as a rudder for said toy.

7. In a toy, a pair of floatablemembers, a y'oke rigidly secured to said members to a spring motor for driving said toy, a handle secured to said motor, and an artificial body' adapted tofunction as a-rudder'attached to said handle.

8. In a toy, a, pair of boat shaped members, a yoke connecting said members,,' driving means mounted on said yoke,'afiexible handle) carried day said drivingmeans, and a dolllike body secured to said handle.

9. In a self-propulsive toy, a pair of buoy .115 ant members, a yoke connecting said mem bers, driving means carried b said yoke, said means including a propeller, spring to actiiate said, propeller, and manually operable means for tightening said-spring. I

. 10. In a toy, a'floatable unit, means carried by said unit, and a doll-like body secured to said means and extending rearwardly of said Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my, name at l iartland, Waukesha County,

, JUDSON HALL. 

